China's emerging stars set the last Asian Games alight and now the country's formidable sports machine will look to unleash a new generation of world-beaters in Incheon.
Sun Yang and Ye Shiwen were barely known teenagers at the 2010 Guangzhou Games, but 10 world and Olympic swimming titles later they will be among the biggest stars in South Korea.
Officials are playing down expectations that China can match their performance of 2010, when they collected 416 medals including 199 golds -- both Asian Games records.
But there is little doubt that China, who will bring nearly 900 athletes -- roughly one-tenth of the total field -- are set to top the medals table for the ninth time in a row.
The 15-day competition in Incheon will be one of the most important proving grounds for China's emerging athletes as they look towards the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Many of the competitors from last month's Youth Olympics in Nanjing will represent China, while badminton great Lin Dan, 30, will defend his title for what could be the last time.
With the number of sports reduced from 42 to 36, and the total number of gold medals down to 439 from 477, China are unlikely to improve on their haul of 2010.
"Almost all experts agree that China will see a sharp decline in gold medals," state broadcaster CCTV said on its website.
By comparison, China's nearest rivals South Korea and Japan won 76 and 48 gold medals respectively in Guangzhou.
- Superstar status -
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China's youngsters will hope to follow in the footsteps of Sun and Ye, who were aged just 19 and 14 when they won four golds between them in 2010.
Sun since gained superstar status by winning two gold medals at the 2012 Olympics, along with five world titles, and twice breaking the hallowed 1500m world record along the way.
However, the 23-year-old has also attracted controversy, and he was banned from swimming activities after briefly being jailed last November for driving his Porsche without a licence.
